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29c. When to use a or an

29cUse a (or an) with common singular count nouns that refer to “one” or “any.”

If a count noun refers to one unspecific item (not a whole category), use the indefinite article, a or an. A and an usually mean “one among many” but can also mean “any one.” (See the chart on this page.)

The noun dictionary refers to “one unspecific dictionary” or “any dictionary.”

The noun apartment refers to “any apartment close to the lake,” not a specific apartment.

Choosing articles for common nouns

Use the

if the reader has enough information to identify the noun specifically	count: Please turn on the lights. We’re going to the zoo tomorrow.
	noncount: The food throughout Italy is excellent.

Use a or an

if the noun refers to one item and if the item is singular but not specific

count: Bring a pencil to class. Charles wrote an essay about his first job.

note: Do not use a or an with plural or noncount nouns.

Use a quantifier (enough, many, some, etc.)

if the noun represents an unspecified amount of something	count (plural): Amir showed us some photos of India. Many turtles return to the same nesting site each year.
if the amount is more than one but not all items in a category	noncount: We didn’t get enough rain this summer.

note: Sometimes no article conveys an unspecified amount: Amir showed us photos of India.

Use no article

if the noun represents all items in a category	count (plural): Students can attend the show for free.
if the noun represents a category in general	noncount: Coal is a natural resource.

note: The is occasionally used when a singular count noun refers to all items in a class or a specific category: The bald eagle is no longer endangered in the United States.